The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-12-14

skins, who seemed to lurk behind every bush
and tree, this bold young soldier had met his
fate, falling with his face to the foe.
AT least he died like hero,n her heart
whispered whenever the bitterness of her WOO
threatened to overwhelm her.
Two days later, after long and weary
journey, her little party reached the soldiers
camp. The boys had intrenched themselves
behind "a small knoll overlooking the sur
rounding country, fortifying themselves with
earthworks against any attacks from the In
dians. The flag Of truce was up, however,
and all things seemed for the present peace
full
At sight of her the boys raised a cheer.
Many Of the militia knew her, and they were
proud of her. They knew her for what she
was-a brave, heroic girl, purely, sweetly
womanly, yet ready as any of her brothers
to take the weapons from her belt and defend
her life or that Of any she loved-a girl inn
bued with all the glory and the strength of
her native mountains.
She Acknowledged their cheers with
sweet, grave dignity; then the leading officer
in her escort whispered something to the
major ere he helped her to dismount.
She caught the reply 1t made her trem-
BILE; but with the suspicion of a great joy,
not sorrow.
Mot dcadi" were the words which came
from her white lips with a gasp.
''No"-the major came to her side quickly
-''the courier made mistake. 1t was Ned
Sampson who died. Ashby still lives, though
he lies still almost at deaths door,
All a mistake--all a horrible dream!-oh.
such happiness was almost impossible TO
realizel Giving her hand to the major, she
almost leaped from the saddle. Her feet
seemed, like the winged Mercury's, to sreed
to him
The major led the way into the tent where
the wounded man lay, motioning the guard
aside. Then he left her, followed by the
young officer who had been in attendance.
Alone, the girl threw herself ON her knees
beside her lover. But there was no recogni.
ton for her in the deep blue oyes-those
proud, brave eyes that had never met her
own save in love and tenderness. He was
unconscious, with the delirium of the foyer
upon him. The words he murmured were Of
the battle field, not of the brave girl who had
ridden so many, many weary niles just to
look upon his dead face.
Taking up the hand that lay so helpless
against the rough blankets, she, pressed it to
her lips: and then, for the first time, the
tears fell from her eyes--fell in a hot, blind
ing mist What pain and anguish had not
done, joy now accomplished--joy that he
still lived, and that she had reached him in
time to give all her young life to his care and
service.
His coat, the one he had worn when part
ing from her, lay on the bed. Her eyes
darkened as she saw the stains of blood and
the bullet hole. She took it in her hands,
examining 1t keenly. There were the pansies,
faded and worn, still pinned inside. The
bullet had passed through just above them.
Had the bullet struck him an inch lower,n
one of the men afterward told her, cit would
have proved fatal.n
Perhaps the pansies, by some subtle influ-
ence had saved him; perhaps her own spirit,
In that moment of agony, had passed into
them, making them indeed a real talisman to
protect him. She loved to think this-that
God had answered her earnest prayers by in
vesting these, her chosen flowers, with tho
power to save his lite
II was only girlish fancy, but it made her
happy. She took the dead, sweet blossoms
and laid them tendcrly away. Until they
became dust these faded flowers would DO
sacredly cherished
All this time the camp had not been with
out menace, but the redskins had been kept
at bay until the arrival Of fresh troops
Through all this danger Jeanette had been
unwavering. Not one expression Of fear had
passed her lips, though she, like all the rest,
drew a sigh OF relief VIXEN the troops arrived.
Then followed hot pursuit of the Indians;
they were pushed back to the reservation.
Jeanette came to Ned's bedside one day
with a look Of joy upon her lovely face IL
was like a transformation
sNed, she cried, with return of her old
life and spirits, "the war Is over. Peace is
declared, and we are going TO take you home
tomorrow
For answer, he silently pressed the small,
warm hand that crept into his own When
ever was there a sweetheart so tender and
true, SO beautiful and bravel
When they reached the Springs, loud and
wild were the cheers given for the brave boys
returning from the war; and not only for
the boys, but for tie brave girl who had
dared to go to the front for loves sake
Under the glorious sweep Of the spangled flag
she rode, her cheeks aflame like the crimson
slopes, and her eyes splendid with the sunlight
of love.
~ know twas the pansies that saved you,n
she whispered to Ned, when they stood once
more together under the shadow of their own
beautiful, royal tinted mountains "Tho pan
sizes have human faces, and / believe God llns
invested every blossom with graces and pow
er, which we do not comprehend
Her tall lover looked down upon the sweet
face uplifted to his, smiling at tho girlish
folly, yet touched by tho pure faith in it.
And, after all, who shall say that she was
not right-that God has not left his divine
impress upon the beautiful, wind tossed bios
SONS as upon our own human, up reaching
soulsi The mysteries of the spiritual world,
SO close to our own, are unfathomable. -Fan-
ME Isabel Sherrick in Frank Leslies.